Wellford City Council OKs ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2012 at 10:27 PMDec 5, 2012 at 9:43 AM

In a 3 to 2 vote, Wellford City councilmembers approved on first reading an ordinance to amend the city's zoning ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses, including strip clubs and stores that sell adult novelty items.

By KIM KIMZEYkim.kimzey@shj.com

WELLFORD — In a 3 to 2 vote, Wellford City councilmembers approved on first reading an ordinance to amend the city's zoning ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses, including strip clubs and stores that sell adult novelty items.The ordinance received initial approval after council members approved first reading on a resolution to rezone three parcels of land. One parcel is where The Gold Club is located. The Gold Club features fully nude exotic dancers. A second parcel is owned by a man who operates another sexually oriented business in Wellford. The third parcel is adjacent to the second parcel.Mayor Tommy Watson, along with council members Courtney Cohen and Madison James voted to rezone the parcels to light industrial and to amend the city's zoning ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses, while council members Glenna Holcombe and Patricia Watson voted against both measures.Mayor Watson said the properties on Highway 29 near Interstate 85 had been annexed into the city but never zoned."The property has never been zoned, and we thought that the best, compatible use for it is going to be I-1 industrial," he said.Councilwoman Watson asked what is planned to be built there.Watson said the Gold Club, a strip club, is already there. Tim Treadwell, owner of Nikita's Playroom, which also features exotic dancers, owns another parcel proposed to be rezoned.Mayor Watson said a movie theater or several other businesses could be built in the area if it is zoned light industrial."So (Treadwell) could put a strip club down there, too?" Councilwoman Watson asked."Yes, ma'am," the mayor said.The amendment to the zoning ordinance that regulates sexually-oriented businesses would make two changes: The businesses would move to a light industrial area, and could operate 750 feet apart, rather than the current 5,280 feet.Sexually oriented businesses include strip clubs, adult theaters, adult motels, and stores that sell adult books, novelties and videos.Mayor Watson said exotic dancers also would have to have permits and business licenses.Cohen made a motion to pass the ordinance on first reading, which was seconded by James.Councilwoman Watson expressed disapproval, saying that they did not want to see another sexually oriented business in the city and thinks one would be established on a parcel if it's rezoned.She said other council members had said there would be no more sexually oriented businesses in the city, and said she could not believe church-going men would approve the amendment."You know it's wrong," she said."When we came in this door, there were still two strip clubs in this city. When we leave, there's going to be two strip clubs in this city. We cannot shut these strip clubs down. If it was up to me, we would shut them down, but they're here and we got to deal with them," Cohen said.Cohen said it would be safer to have the businesses in one area where police could patrol them.A public hearing on the rezoning is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Wellford City Hall, immediately followed by a city council meeting to have second reading on rezoning the parcels and amending the zoning ordinance to regulate sexually-oriented businesses.After the meeting, Mayor Watson said Nikita's Playroom is currently in an area that's zoned residential.He said he does not condone the strip clubs."I didn't bring these clubs into this town," he said. Yet he said the city can't close establishments that have the constitutional right to operate.He said two other sexually oriented businesses — a male strip club and lingerie shop — have made inquiries, but if the amendments pass they won't qualify to set up shop.Mayor Watson said they are trying to get sexually oriented businesses out of the residential and business district.The current ordinance stipulates that sexually oriented businesses cannot operate within 2,640 feet of religious institutions, day care centers or schools, residential district boundaries, public parks and youth activity centers. If the amended zoning ordinance is passed the distance will be changed to 1,000 feet.In other business, council unanimously approved second reading on an ordinance that amends the business license provisions for insurance companies."This is an ordinance that allows us to collect business license from insurance companies that may not operate within the city, but do business inside the city. it also gives us the ability to partner with the South Carolina Municipal Association for them to collect and remit those fees to us," Watson said.Wellford City police recorded 45 street lights throughout the town were out Monday night and about 12 lights were on during the day. Watson said the issue has been reported to Duke Energy.

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